Much less public until now has been the criticism - on and off the record - from legal experts. Both inside and outside the offices of the ICC, lawyers are baffled by the 'grandstanding' of the chief prosecutor. Why, they ask, did Moreno Ocampo target the highest man in Sudan with a charge of the 'crime of crimes' genocide and with such a public display? And why only al-Bashir?

The last week has seen two important developments regarding ICC prosecutions of alleged war crimes committed in Darfur. Tajeldin Abdalla Adam is a journalist with Radio Dabanga, a Netherlands based station that broadcasts to Darfur. He told the IJT what these rulings will mean for Darfuris.

The International Criminal Court will start confirmation of charges hearings in the case against Darfur rebel leader Abu Garda on Monday 19 October.

By Thijs Bouwknegt

A confirmation hearing is held to ensure that no case goes to trial unless there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed the crime with which he has been charged.

Bahr Idriss Abu Garda has the right to attend the hearing or in his absence be represented by counsel.

The International Criminal Court has much work to do, especially since the landmark decision by the UN Security Council Saturday, to refer the case of Libya to the court. But how long will it take to prosecute suspects? A conversation with William Pace, Convenor of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), a global coalition of 2,500 NGOs.

A Sudanese governor wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes used a UN helicopter to attend a peace meeting in the flashpoint Abyei region.

By Thijs Bouwknegt

Ahmad Mohammad Harun was allowed on Sunday to take the UN transport as he played a "critical" role in attempts to end ethnic clashes in Sudan's troubled Abyei region where dozens have been killed in ethnic clashes in recent days.

Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the UN Security Council on May 28th that the Sudanese government is protecting suspects wanted for war crimes instead of arresting them to face trial.

By Thijs Bouwknegt

It is now up to the Council “to take any action it may deem appropriate,” the court said in a news release.

With the upcoming elections in Myanmar, the world is refocusing its attention on the military regime that is ruling the country. The US has recently voiced its support for a UN inquiry into alleged war crimes.